Ballarat link: child car restraints recalled

More than 60,000 child car restraints with parts supplied by a Ballarat company are being recalled after testing found them likely to fail in a collision.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission yesterday called for all anchor kits and brackets imported by Hemco Industries to be immediately removed from cars after failing an independent safety test.

The anchor kits and brackets, used in station wagons, four-wheel drives, hatchbacks and older model cars, have been supplied by Hemco since April to major car-seat brands Tomy Australia, IGC Dorel and Como Baby.

Some of the anchor kits and brackets were also sold separately as aftermarket accessories.

ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said many, although not all, newer vehicles tended to have an anchor bracket already installed.

“The ACCC is urging consumers to check vehicles for the affected anchor bracket, regardless of the brand of car seat or capsule that they use,” Ms Rickard said.

“The restraint should generally be attached via a top tether strap to an anchor point in the car ... the seatbelt should also be correctly threaded through the restraint and buckled.”

Ms Rickard said the RACV estimated about 70 per cent of child restraints were not installed correctly.

Hemco general manager Graeme Holt told Fairfax yesterday he was surprised the bracket had not passed the test.

“We have been supplying the part for over 10 years and have never had any trouble,” Mr Holt said.

The anchor point is generally located on the parcel shelf in sedans and on the floor in station wagons, vans and hatchbacks.

It may also be located on the inside roof of some station wagons. Anchor point locations are indicated in the vehicle owner’s manual.

Affected units can be identified by the batch number, which has been stamped on the product. The relevant batch numbers are 022 and 023.